Android Pay in the UK: how does it work and which banks support it?

Metro Bank has finally signed up for Android's contactless payment method, following the service's launch in the UK in May last year.

It joins TSB, which was the most recent addition in September, in joining the Android Pay UK banks list. Android Pay is available to devices with Android KitKat and above with a built-in NFC chip, as well as Android Wear 2.0 watches.

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Which banks support Android Pay in the UK?

Android Pay in the UK supports Mastercard and Visa credit and debit cards from the following issuers:

Bank of Scotland

First Direct

Halifax

HSBC

Lloyds Bank

M&S Bank

MBNA

Nationwide

Metro Bank

NatWest

Santander

TSB

Royal Bank of Scotland

Ulster Bank

A recent update in the US saw Android Pay being incorporated into existing banking apps, meaning customers no longer have to use two apps (Google's Android Pay and the banking app) to manage payments.

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Google has partnered with several financial institutions, including Bank of America, BNZ, Discover, mBank and USAA, to let people add cards and use Android Pay from within their mobile banking apps. It is not clear when, or if, this feature will be coming to the UK though.

Is there an Android Pay limit?

It varies depending on provider and retailer, but it's typically set at £30.

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What is Android Pay?

Anyone with an Android device running KitKat (4.4) and above, or Android Wear 2.0, can make payments if their phone or watch has Near Field Communication (NFC). The system will work with all existing contactless payment points, including those on the London's transport network.

Google

Users will first need to connect their credit or debit card to the Android Pay app.

"By creating a unique virtual account number for your transaction, your name and full card details are never shown in the app, never stored on your phone, and never shared with the merchant," Google said. If a phone is locked or stolen it can be locked remotely, the company added.

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Apple's rival payment method, Apple Pay, launched in the UK in June 2015.

It was immediately supported by almost all major UK banks, with the exception of Barclays, which launched its own bPay alternative. Barclays only rolled-out Apple Pay functionality in April 2016.